activities · 8
what they do
direct service · 8
- Annual "Big Sit!" fundraiser Public Environmental Events & OutreachOrganizes an annual "Big Sit!" fundraiser where participants count bird species from a designated circle to raise funds for youth scholarships.
- Annual Banquet Themed Fundraising Events with Auctions & RafflesHosts an annual banquet that includes a social hour with raffle and silent auction, and a buffet dinner with vegan options, where a new Board of Directors is inducted.
- Bird and insect photography workshops Hands-On Natural History & Traditional Skills WorkshopsOffers bird and insect photography workshops that include an indoor session covering equipment, camera settings, photography tips, and image processing, followed by a field portion at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch to practice learned skills.
- Habitat protection and restorationEngages in habitat protection and restoration for birds and wildlife in the Southwest through volunteer efforts.
- Hosting monthly membership meetings Monthly Themed Membership Meetings with Speaker PresentationsHosts monthly general membership meetings from September through May, featuring guest speakers, meet-and-greet sessions, and a book sale.
- Organizing birdwatching field trips Guided Environmental Field TripsOrganizes birdwatching field trips for members and the public, classifying them by a 5-level difficulty scale based on exertion and hiking distance, and facilitating carpooling for participants.
- Participating in Christmas Bird Counts Public Environmental Events & OutreachParticipates in annual Christmas Bird Counts by organizing volunteers to record all individual birds within a 15-mile diameter circle during the designated period.
- Publishing "The Cactus Wren•dition" newsletter Wildlife-Focused Audiovisual Content ProductionPublishes a newsletter called "The Cactus Wren•dition" which features photos of rare and unusual birds.
strategies · 6
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advocacy and habitat restoration through organized volunteer action advocacyMobilizes public support for protected lands and conducts on-the-ground restoration projects, such as erosion control using rock structures, to improve and preserve critical bird habitats.
- Citizen science for environmental monitoring and stewardship citizen_science_monitoringEngages volunteers in bird counts and surveys to monitor avian populations and ecosystem health, using data to inform habitat conservation and stewardship actions in Arizona Important Bird Areas.
- Community-based conservation through education and engagement community-based conservationLeverages education, public events, and volunteer involvement to foster stewardship, protect habitats, and advance conservation goals through shared fellowship and local action.
- Event-based fundraising integrated with community engagement event-based_fundraisingHosts social events featuring raffles and auctions to raise funds while strengthening member relationships and combining camaraderie with mission support.
- Field-based environmental education and public engagement field-based environmental educationUses guided field trips and outdoor experiences to educate the public on birds and conservation, combining direct engagement with accessibility measures like difficulty scaling and carpooling to broaden participation.
- Skill-based and inclusive volunteer mobilization skill_based_volunteer_assignmentAssigns volunteers to teams based on bird identification expertise and physical capacity, while using hybrid meetings and standardized trip difficulty levels to ensure inclusive and effective participation.
named programs · 15
what they call their work
Annual Banquet
An annual event including a social hour, raffle, silent auction, dinner, and induction of the new Board of Directors.
Arizona Important Bird Area Program Stewardship
Individuals or teams adopt an Arizona Important Bird Area to conduct bird surveys, fill out seasonal habitat report cards, and participate in site-specific conservation projects.
Audubon Adventures
An environmental education program for grades 4-6, providing newspapers and teaching aids to classrooms across the U.S.
Audubon Southwest Nature Center Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities at the Audubon Southwest Nature Center.
Bird & Insect Photography Workshop
A workshop covering photography equipment, camera settings, tips for improving photos, and image processing, followed by a field session.
Burrowing Owl Relocation
Volunteer opportunities in partnership with Wild At Heart for the relocation of burrowing owls.
Christmas Bird Counts
Participation in the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Counts to collect data on winter bird populations.
Community Presentations
Volunteers make presentations on birds, habitat, and natural history to community groups across the Valley.
Erosion Control Rock-Work Day
Volunteer events focused on remediating erosion with rock structures at wildlife underpasses, such as the Oracle Road wildlife underpass.
Field Trips
Organized excursions for birdwatching and enjoying nature, with varying difficulty levels and carpooling arrangements.
Herb Fibel Big Sit! Fundraiser
An annual fundraising event where participants count bird species from a designated circle to raise funds for Youth Scholarships for the AZFO annual meeting.
Monthly Meetings
Hybrid in-person and Zoom meetings held monthly from September through May, featuring guest speakers and a general membership meeting.
Rally for Public Lands
An event to show public support for national monuments, parks, and public lands, often involving gatherings at specific sites like Ironwood Forest National Monument.
Sky Island Alliance Volunteer Opportunities
Collaboration with Sky Island Alliance for activities like documenting illegal roads, habitat restoration, monitoring mammal species, and office support.
The Cactus Wren•dition
The organization's newsletter, which seeks photos of rare and unusual birds seen in the Phoenix area or elsewhere in Arizona.
relationships · 13
who they work with
- Arizona Field Ornithologists Partner — Provides CBC workshop materials for bird count participants.
- Audubon Southwest Nature Center Partner — Offers volunteer opportunities through the center.
- Cindy Marple Partner — Leads the annual "Big Sit!" fundraising event.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to connect with the public and share updates.
- Friends of Ironwood Forest (FIF) Partner — Collaborates on public lands rallies at Ironwood Forest National Monument.
- Kathe Anderson Partner — Leads the annual "Big Sit!" fundraising event.
- Liberty Wildlife Partner — Hosted the annual banquet at Liberty Wildlife's facility.
- National Audubon Society Partner — Supports the "Audubon Adventures" environmental education program.
- Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren Partner — Hosts the organization's monthly meetings.
- Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Funder — Funds erosion control projects at the Oracle Road wildlife underpass.
- Sky Island Alliance Partner — Collaborates on documenting illegal roads, habitat restoration, and mammal species monitoring.
- USDA Forest Service Government — Coordinates field trips in areas requiring USDA Forest Service Day Use Passes.
- Wild At Heart Partner — Collaborates on Burrowing Owl Relocation events.